Accident Investigation
The Accident Investigation Unit is responsible for investigating fatal vehicle crashes. The Unit also conducts follow up investigations on traffic crashes, hit and run cases and reviews and approves Penn DOT Crash Reports that happen within the City of Erie. Sgt. Thomas Dunmire Jr. and Cpl. John Stephens are currently assigned to the Unit. They have specialized training in traffic crash reconstruction and analysis, motorcycle and pedestrian reconstruction and analysis, and crash data retrieval analysis. In order to provide current relevant applications in reconstruction/investigation the Unit continues to enhance efforts of education by attending further advanced trainings and seminars.
Reporting a Crash to Police
If you are involved in a crash with injury or a vehicle is damaged that it cannot be driven under its own power in its customary manner then you should call 911 and an officer will be dispatched to your location. An Erie Police Crash Receipt will be issued to you by the responding officer. A Penn DOT Crash Report will be completed and a copy can be obtained by you by visiting crashdocs.org.
If you are a victim of a hit and run crash and have suspect information then you can call the Erie Police non-emergency number at (814)870-1125 and an officer will be dispatched and provide you with an Erie Police Crash Receipt.
Citizen Crash Report
If you are a victim of a hit and run with no hitting vehicle information and need to file a report for insurance purposes, complete the following Citizens Crash Receipt and return it to the Erie Police Department where an incident number will be issued to you.
It is also a recommended that you print a copy of this form and keep in your vehicle. This will assist you in obtaining required information to properly document your accident and exchanging information between involved parties.
You can complete a citizen’s crash receipt in the following situations:
- You are involved in an accident and exchanged information and there is no injury and no vehicles need to be towed and you need to report the crash to the Erie Police Department for insurance purposes.
- Your vehicle was involved in a hit and run crash and there is no suspect information to include a hitting vehicles registration plate and you need a report for insurance purposes.
For more information on the Traffic Investigation Unit contact
(814) 870-1171
(814) 870-1419
Accident Investigation Unit Clerk
Completed non-reportable crash receipts can be obtained by contacting (814)870-1135.
Competed reportable crash receipts/Penndot reports can be obtained by contacting (814)870-1135 or by entering the 12 digit incident number, last name, and date of accident at crashdocs.org
PA Law requires:
- 3744. Duty to give information and render aid.
(a) General rule.–The driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to or death of any person or damage to any vehicle or other property which is driven or attended by any person shall give his name, address and the registration number of the vehicle he is driving, and shall upon request exhibit his driver’s license and information relating to financial responsibility to any person injured in the accident or to the driver or occupant of or person attending any vehicle or other property damaged in the accident and shall give the information and upon request exhibit the license and information relating to financial responsibility to any police officer at the scene of the accident or who is investigating the accident and shall render to any person injured in the accident reasonable assistance, including the making of arrangements for the carrying of the injured person to a physician, surgeon or hospital for medical or surgical treatment if it is apparent that treatment is necessary or if requested by the injured person.
(a.1) Highly automated vehicles.–
(1) If a vehicle under subsection (a) is a highly automated vehicle operating with an ADS engaged or without a highly automated vehicle driver on board, the requirements of this section are satisfied if the certificate holder for the highly automated vehicle, a person on behalf of the certificate holder for the highly automated vehicle or the highly automated vehicle immediately contacts a duly authorized police department to report the accident and communicates the registration and financial responsibility information for the highly automated vehicle to the police department.
(2) The highly automated vehicle shall remain at the scene of the accident or as close thereto as is safely possible until the requirements of this section are fulfilled.
(b) Report of accident to police.–In the event that none of the persons specified are in condition to receive the information to which they otherwise would be entitled under subsection (a) and no police officer is present, the driver of any vehicle involved in the accident after fulfilling all other requirements of section 3742 (relating to accidents involving death or personal injury) and subsection (a), insofar as possible on his part to be performed, shall forthwith report the accident to the nearest office of a duly authorized police department and submit to the police department the information specified in subsection (a).
(c) Duty of occupants if driver disabled.–Whenever the driver of a vehicle is physically unable to give the information or assistance required in this section and there are other occupants in the vehicle at the time of the accident who are physically able to give the information or assistance required in this section, each of the other occupants shall fully reveal the identity of himself and the identity of the driver of the vehicle and of the owner of the vehicle of which they are occupants and shall otherwise perform the duties of the driver as set forth in subsection (a).